Detroit radio has a new morning voice. Screamin’ Scott Randall officially joins WCSX-FM’s morning drive lineup today, May 18, 2026.
What We Know: Randall moves from afternoon drive to mornings at Beasley Media Group’s WCSX-FM. He previously hosted mornings at Detroit’s WRIF-FM and WDZR-FM (Z Rock) before shifting to afternoons at WCSX. Now, he returns to the daypart where he built his name. His deep Detroit roots, classic rock credibility, and loyal fanbase follow him into the new role.
This news comes after we reported last week that Big Jim O’Brien was exiting the station after 24 years.
What They Said: “Screamin’ Scott has long been one of the most recognizable and entertaining voices on WCSX,” said Program Director Jade Springart. “His passion for the Motor City, knowledge of classic rock, and genuine connection with listeners make him a perfect fit for mornings.”
VP/Market Manager Matt Scarano added, “Screamin’ Scott understands the DNA of Detroit rock radio better than almost anyone.”
Randall himself said, “Detroit listeners are the best in the world! Getting the chance to start their mornings with great music, laughs, and conversation is truly an honor.”
What Remains Unclear: No replacement has been announced for the afternoon drive slot Randall vacates. Additionally, details about co-hosts or show format remain unconfirmed. It’s also unclear whether programming changes will accompany the shift.
What It Means: Randall brings decades of Detroit radio credibility to the station’s highest-profile daypart. Time will tell if the loss of O’Brien will impact the station overall but with Randall, Detroit classic rock fans get a familiar, energetic voice to start their day.
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Libsyn has a new Vice President of Product. Todd Pringle has been appointed to the role.
What We Know: Pringle joins Libsyn after previously serving as the leader of the Amazon Music Podcasts team. He’s also spent more than two decades in the space. Previous stops include Stitcher, Deezer, eBay, AOL Music, and Netscape, among others.
What They Said: “As podcasting continues expanding across audio, video, distribution, and monetization, Todd brings exactly the kind of product leadership we need for this next phase of growth. His experience building creator-focused platforms and scalable audience products will help shape how we continue investing in the tools, infrastructure, and monetization capabilities creators need to grow their businesses.” -Libsyn CEO Brendan Monaghan
“Podcasting is entering an incredibly exciting phase of growth and transformation. Libsyn has an unmatched heritage in podcasting and a strong creator-first vision centered on openness, monetization, and innovation. I’m thrilled to join the team and help build products that make it easier for creators to grow their audiences, expand their businesses. And unlock new opportunities across audio and video.” -Libsyn VP of Product Todd Pringle
What Remains Unclear: It is unclear when Pringle will officially join Libsyn in his new role.
What It Means: Libsyn has invested heavily in its audio networks and how it integrates with advertisers. Someone with the experience of Todd Pringle is another smart move made by the organization.
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Salem Radio Network is planning a special news series surrounding the America 250 celebration. Several high-profile figures will contribute, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.
What We Know: Salem Radio Network is launching a new series titled Faith & Freedom, detailing how important faith was in the role of America’s founding fathers in 1776. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson will offer his perspective. Also included in the series are Rev. Franklin Graham, Pastor Allen Jackson, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), among others.
What They Said: “This special series—launching today and continuing until July 4th—will give national prominence to the religious freedoms Americans are blessed to enjoy…in the words of men and women who are strong leaders in both political and religious life in our nation.” -Salem Radio Network VP of News & Talk Programming Tom Tradup
What Remains Unclear: How long the special series will run. Also unknown is how long the content for the special series will be.
What It Means:Salem Radio Network has prioritized fostering its relationship with Rep. Mike Johnson to include several important facets. He also appears regularly on This Week on Capitol Hill on the network. Those appearances have opened the door to create a relationship where he feels comfortable participating in this special series.
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For the first time, Los Angeles sports fans woke up this morning to hear its first-ever FM all-sports radio station. 97.1 The Fan has officially launched. The launch is the result of months of collaboration among Audacy’s top sports programming minds. The goal was simple. With the company continuing to push sports radio to the FM dial, focus is centered on building a full-scale, live and local sports option dedicated to serving Los Angeles sports fans, teams, and advertisers.
The local strategy explains why Jim Rome isn’t part of 97.1 The Fan’s lineup. Despite being based in the region, and distributed by Cumulus Media and Westwood One, who Audacy partners with, Rome is missing from the airwaves of the top sports radio brands in his home market. With ESPN LA, AM 570 and AM 830 all airing national shows, The Fan sees an opening for all-local content.
Following the release of the weekday daytime lineup several weeks ago, buzz throughout the sports radio community became evident. Chatter on social media and within sports radio programming circles reached a fever pitch. Questions quickly surfaced. Is FM enough to stand out in a market like Los Angeles? Can LA support four sports radio brands when similarly sized markets cannot? Which teams sign on to have their games heard on The Fan?
In seeking answers to those questions, there was no shortage of people willing to provide them.
“There’s never been a more fascinating time to be in the sports business in LA than today,” said Don Martin, former SVP of AM 570 KLAC-AM and SVP of Programming for FOX Sports Radio. “You have the World Cup coming. Plus, the Super Bowl in February, and the Olympics are coming in a couple of years. More importantly, you now have three huge brands playing in the market.”
Without a doubt, the Los Angeles market offers a massive amount of sports content for a massive population. Every professional sports league is represented. Several Division I colleges also call the market home.
Is FM Enough To Win?
However, local sports fans may have plenty of options, but Los Angeles is not known as a sports radio juggernaut. Both heritage brands in ESPN Los Angeles (Good Karma Brands) and AM 570 (iHeartMedia) are more known for generating revenue and digital success than dominant ratings. Angels Radio 830 is the Angels flagship station with less revenue and ratings impact. Even so, FM provides an opportunity for Audacy while their competitors operate on the AM dial.
97.1 FM will soon become 971 The Fan, LA's newest sports station. Lakers legend Derek Fisher will co-host “Derek & Decker” on the station with Cody Decker. Fisher spoke with KNX News' Brian Douglas about why Los Angeles is a sports town. pic.twitter.com/yyvDz80uak
But is being on FM enough of a selling point to draw a larger audience in the “City of Angels?”
“I’ve always said you give me an FM station in LA, and I’m going to kill it,” said Martin. “There’s something about being on that FM band that still matters a lot.”
Longtime SVP/GM of ESPN Los Angeles who now works with Workhouse Media Scott McCarthy added, “An FM will absolutely help grow the overall share for the sports format in LA, but I’m not sure how large that growth will be. Sports radio in LA has never seen shares like NY, Chicago or Dallas, and never will. But its slice of the overall listening pie in LA will grow with the addition of an FM.”
Former ESPN Los Angeles operations manager Dan Zampillo believes FM provides additional value for sports radio. However, the market itself may not in fact need sports talk on FM.
“LA is an interesting market. Yes, people love the Lakers and the Dodgers. But it’s just not a hardcore sports market,” said Zampillo. “FM has obviously been successful in some other markets for Audacy, but I’m not sure it’ll have a similar effect in LA like it has had in some other markets.”
97.1 The Fan joins the Los Angeles sports radio battle without a flagship team attached to the brand. Many suspect Audacy will move the FM broadcast rights of the Los Angeles Rams to the station. That content would still be shared with AM competitor ESPN Los Angeles. The two companies share a similar relationship in Cleveland with the Browns.
“Audacy’s 97.1 FM entrant has a technical signal advantage, but without a major franchise right to anchor the brand, they are essentially an engine running without gas,” said former iHeartMedia Los Angeles market president Kevin LeGrett. “The real battle won’t just be over talent and ratings, but over the skyrocketing costs of play-by-play rights, which are required to keep these lineups relevant.”
A Starting Lineup
Without broadcast rights to attract a built-in fan base, the daytime lineup faces pressure to carry the load. 97.1 The Fan features a live and local lineup built to air from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, which distinguishes it from competitors that mix syndicated programming with local voices.
However, being a startup comes with branding challenges.
“This lineup for 97.1 is not going to be the same in 18 months,” said Martin. “You have staying power with Colin Cowherd and Dan Patrick on AM 570 even though they’re network shows.”
Both AM 570 and ESPN Los Angeles benefit from longevity. Outside of Cowherd and Patrick on AM 570, local standouts Petros and Money also bring years of familiarity to listeners. ESPN Los Angeles counters with Mason and Ireland, the market’s longest-running local program, with Ireland also serving as the radio voice of the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Petros and Money, Mason and Ireland. Those are tentpole talent and shows for the market,” said Zampillo. “When you look at 97.1 The Fan’s lineup right now, nothing feels tentpole-like for now.”
Despite the challenge of establishing longevity, the content approach could prove most vital.
“The formula for ratings and revenue success in so-called sports radio has really nothing to do with sports,” said former ESPN Los Angeles operations manager Mike Thompson. “The successful stations are personality stations that drive listeners throughout the day, breaking barriers between shows and stealing shared listening from other male-targeted formats.”
Long Term Survival
Los Angeles is now the largest market in the United States with four dedicated sports radio brands. Population aside, the market is the third-largest metropolitan economy in the world, trailing only Tokyo and New York City. By adding 97.1 The Fan to its Los Angeles sports portfolio, Audacy is planting its flag in a market that Audacy regional president Jeff Federman calls “the epicenter of the sports world.”
But can three sports stations and a team run outlet survive long term in a market like Los Angeles?
“Can three stations all be top-five billers? Unlikely,” said LeGrett. “However, LA is a unique, fragmented market with nearly 13 million people. There is enough cume to support three outlets if they differentiate their content. AM 570 can own the heritage and team-play position, with ESPN Los Angeles owning the national star-power lane. 97.1 The Fan can target a younger, FM-preferring demographic with its signal.”
Scott McCarthy shares a similar view on the format’s local profitability: “I don’t think LA can support four profitable sports stations, but I’m also not sure any of them will throw in the towel. KLAC is half-owned by the Dodgers. The Angels own KLAA. KSPN is owned by Good Karma (one of the best in the business at developing sponsor partnerships), and Audacy is the undisputed leader in local sports radio. It’s hard to imagine any of them abandoning the format anytime soon.”
For Don Martin, the question ultimately comes down to belief in the product.
“There’s no way the market can handle three sports stations. I just don’t believe so,” said Martin. “It’s going to be interesting. Bright minds are involved with all three properties. What’s going to make it interesting is which companies stick with it.”
Zampillo noted that Los Angeles is a “flashy” market, driven by celebrity, lifestyle, and tech culture. That’s a major reason why he believes that although an FM sports station may appear different from its direct competitors, it still operates in a space where digital platforms carry significant weight.
“It’s going to be hard for all three stations to exist long term,” said Zampillo. “There are so many digital content products coming out of LA. An FM sports station may seem great to some, but it’s not as flashy as it would be in other markets.”
Winning the Car Matters Most
While some skepticism exists about the long-term viability of what 97.1 The Fan can provide, one characteristic may prove to be its biggest advantage.
“Los Angeles is fundamentally different from Chicago or New York due to our commute culture, high radio usage, and pro sports density,” said LeGrett. “LA listeners spend more time in their vehicles than almost any other market, allowing three distinct signals to find their own audience lanes.”
The early building blocks for capitalizing on that culture lie in winning the drive-time dayparts, especially mornings.
“You have to build a really strong morning show for early success. There’s an opportunity for a strong local morning show on 97.1 The Fan,” said Zampillo.
“LA is a funky town. There’s still a radio audience that lives in their cars all day long,” said Martin. “No one is going to win this race overnight. It’s going to take time to figure it out, but it’s going to be interesting to watch. You got three big dogs. Which one is going to lose? It’s a great time to grab some popcorn and a soda and watch what happens.”
Scott McCarthy summed it up, adding “I think Audacy has a real opportunity to take a leadership position over time. It’s hard for AMs to compete with FMs in any format, and Audacy has some great minds behind this in Jeff Federman, Mitch Rosen, and others. I would imagine they will pursue local rights deals in LA as they come up, and teams clearly prefer FM to AM. But, in my mind, it all comes down to the personalities you have on the air. Audacy has to win at that game, and they’ve proven to be pretty damn good at it in other major markets.”
In a city fueled by stars, traffic, championships, and endless entertainment options, the arrival of 97.1 The Fan represents more than another station launch. It’s a high-stakes bet on the future of sports radio in one of the most competitive media markets in America.
Whether Los Angeles can truly sustain four full-time sports stations remains to be seen, but one thing is undeniable: the battle lines have officially been drawn.
For Audacy, simply entering the fight signals belief that sports audio still matters in a city overflowing with digital distractions. For AM 570 and ESPN Los Angeles, it means defending years of brand equity and audience loyalty against a fresh FM challenger looking to carve out its own lane.
And for listeners, it creates something the market has never experienced before — a true competition for relevance, personality, and attention. Los Angeles has officially entered a new era of sports radio. Now comes the fascinating part: finding out which brands possess the patience, strategy, and staying power to survive it.
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Tony Rizzo is back. He says he nearly didn’t make it. The ESPN Cleveland host returned to the airwaves Monday after missing two weeks of programming. He used the occasion to publicly reveal, for the first time, that a major heart attack had sidelined him.
What We Know: Rizzo has anchored the Cleveland sports radio market for over three decades. He currently co-hosts The Really Big Show alongside Aaron Goldhammer and Chris Oldach, weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Additionally, he hosts a YouTube-exclusive morning program. His absence had gone unexplained — until now.
What They Said: Tony Rizzo described the moment he had a heart attack “I got bagels for my mom. I drove them out to Middleburg Heights, and I came home. I’m getting chills talking about this. So, I got back to my home at 1130 and my chest siezed up, and I couldn’t breathe. I had a heart attack, a major heart attack. I knew something was really wrong. Because I’d never felt like that before in my life.”
Tony Rizzo described the fear in the moment “I couldn’t breathe, chest burning. Knew something was really, really wrong. I had never felt like that in my life. And I was really scared, really scared.”
Tony Rizzo on returning to work at ESPN Cleveland “I’m lucky to be alive. You know me. You know I’m not hospital guy. But I knew right away the good Lord let me know. Get your ass to the hospital. Something is very wrong. Had I waited about 45 minutes, I would have died.”
What Remains Unclear: Rizzo has not shared details about his diagnosis, treatment, or long-term recovery timeline.
What It Means: Rizzo is, without question, the voice of Cleveland sports radio. His return matters deeply to a loyal audience. At the same time, his health scare serves as a powerful reminder that even the most familiar voices are human. Additionally, it’s an important wake-up call for others to prioritize regular checkups, even when no day-to-day symptoms are present. Ultimately, moments like these reinforce how quickly life can change and why preventative care should never be overlooked. Hoping the best for Tony Rizzo moving forward.
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Tubi launches FIFA World Cup 2026 hub with live simulcasts as the streaming platform is going all-in on soccer. Fox Corporation’s free streaming platform will simulcast two matches and the opening ceremonies live in 4K.
What We Know: Tubi is launching the 2026 FIFA World Cup FOX Hub, accessible directly from its homepage. The platform will carry two World Cup matches live including Mexico vs. South Africa on June 11 and the United States vs. Paraguay on June 12. Tubi has previously simulcast major sporting events, including Super Bowl LVIII in 2024. This signals a growing live sports strategy for the free streaming platform. The hub offers highlights, replays, a 24/7 FOX Sports feed, and original programming, all free with no subscription required.
What They Said: Samuel Harowitz, Senior Vice President of Content Acquisitions & Partnerships at Tubi “The FIFA World Cup FOX Hub is programmed around everything that surrounds it. The players, the teams, the countries, and the creators who live and breathe the sport, delivering the ultimate fan experience. The Hub offers original docuseries following players on their journey to the tournament. Also talk shows and podcasts bringing fan-fueled energy to ‘the beautiful game,’ and classic films that capture what soccer means to people around the world. We’re excited to offer a content slate that gives every kind of fan something to connect with. Before, during, and after the matches.”
What Remains Unclear: It’s still unknown whether Tubi will expand its live match simulcast schedule beyond the two announced games. Additionally, the long-term live sports strategy for the platform continues to be unknown. With signature live events such as the Super Bowl and World Cup, could there be more on the horizon? Fox may be thinking potentially some added distribution for the World Series among other signature events in its portfolio. Whether other Fox will eventually shift more live inventory to Tubi also remains an open question.
What It Means: With the continued growth in FAST channel options, networks like Fox are positioning themselves for more future use of their own free streaming platforms. Using high-viewership opportunities like the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup are fantastic ways to introduce audience to the platforms. Whether or not more options for Fox to place on the platform remains unclear, but Fox is using the opportunity to develop audience on their free streaming platform option.
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YES Network Yankees viewership is surging in 2026. Total audience delivery numbers are up significantly across every key metric.
What We Know: YES Network is seeing its strongest Yankees viewership performance in recent memory. Through May 10, fans have watched 1.9 billion minutes of Yankees baseball — a 14% jump over last season. Average total viewership is up 7% year over year, while 47% of YES’ Yankees games this year have averaged more than 300,000 total viewers.
What The Numbers Show: (Source: Nielsen NLTV – Total Audience Delivery, NYY In-game on YES + vYES, 2026 vs. 2025 (through 5/10), NY DMA, L+SD)
Metric / Data Point
2026
Previous Year (2025)
Minutes Viewed on YES (YTD)
1.9 Billion
1.6 Billion
Average Total Viewership (YTD)
299,405
280,920
Games Averaging 300K+ Viewers
47%
33%
Average Total Viewership Since May 1
326,000
289,000
What Remains Unclear: Whether the identical 28-19 record explains the viewership gap — or hurts it — remains an open question. The team currently sits in second place in the AL East instead of first place at the 28-19 record just a year ago. Furthermore, it’s unclear if engagement gains will hold as the schedule intensifies deeper into summer.
What It Means: The data provided is on par with the rise seen in viewership utilizing the new Nielsen Big Data + Panel measurement data since being installed since September. Additionally, key demos are surging: viewership among adults 25-54 and 18-49 is each up 21%. Meanwhile, streaming is contributing too, with three Gotham Sports App games topping 110,000 average viewers. All in, it will be interesting to see these numbers next season when measurement approach is all equal.
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The “Woody & Wilcox Show” has a new home. Starting Monday, May 18, the syndicated morning program launched on 96.3 WROV-FM in the Roanoke-Lynchburg market.
What We Know: The Charlotte-based show is now airing weekdays from 6–10 a.m. on The Rock of Virginia. It currently reaches 20 markets across five time zones. The duo brings offbeat humor, pop culture commentary, and candid storytelling to Classic Rock audiences. Their fast-paced format has built a loyal, engaged following.
What They Said: “We’re excited to bring the Woody & Wilcox Show to The Rock of Virginia,” said Woody. “We can’t wait to wake up with listeners and bring them something fun and unpredictable every morning.” Additionally, VP of Programming Scott Stevens praised the fit: “They are smart, quick, genuinely funny and completely unpredictable in the best way.”
What Remains Unclear: It is not yet known how the show will perform in this specific market. Local audience response will ultimately shape its long-term future at WROV. Whether additional iHeart markets will pick up the show also remains to be seen.
What It Means: This move signals iHeartMedia’s continued investment in syndicated morning talent. For WROV, landing an established show reduces programming risk. Moreover, it gives the station a proven product with built-in momentum.
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Another AM-only news/talk station is ceasing operations. El Dorado Broadcasters has ceased operations of Talk 960 (KIXW-AM) in California.
What We Know: The KIXW-AM signal was Class D, with 5,000 watts of daytime power. It had 20 watts of nighttime power. It originally signed on the air in 1954 as KAVR-AM. The station’s daily lineup consisted of syndicated shows. Heard on the station were shows hosted by Vince Coglianese, Sean Hannity, Joe Pags, Coast to Coast AM, and Dave Ramsey, among others.
What They Said: “Talk960 has signed off the air. We are grateful for your years of loyal listenership.” -a statement from El Dorado Broadcasters
What Remains Unclear: If the shutdown of the station will move the syndicated shows to other stations near the area. KIXW-AM was licensed to Apple Valley, California. The city is located 50 miles north of San Bernardino.
What It Means: The move marks another signal given up by El Dorado Broadcasters. Earlier this year, the company shut down 560 KBLU in Yuma, Arizona, too.
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TKO Holdings has no plans to pull out of scheduled events involving the WWE and UFC this summer in Saudi Arabia. TKO President Mark Shapiroconfirmed the company is pressing forward with all scheduled events in the region.
What We Know: TKO Holdings operates both the UFC and WWE properties among others including PBR and Zuffa Boxing. Unlike other sports such as F1, which has already cancelled races due to ongoing tensions in the area. TKO carries a comparatively lighter Saudi event footprint. Additional leagues and organizations may yet face similar pressure to reconsider their regional commitments.
What They Said: TKO President Mark Shapiro “I think the market overreacted a little bit,” he said. “Middle East, what’s going on isn’t good for anybody or any business. I want to be clear about that. More importantly, for humanity. We’re not like F1. We don’t have a lot of events at this time right now that would be impacted, changed, moved, or altered because of what’s going on over there.”
TKO President Mark Shapiro “All systems go, but as you’d expect, we’re going to monitor the situation. If we have to make a move or have a schedule change, we will do the right thing by our audience, and more importantly, by global affairs.”
What Remains Unclear: TKO has not specified how long it will monitor before acting. There are also questions on whether pressure will intensify if regional tensions escalate further. The WWE currently has a Night of Champions premium live event scheduled for June 27, while the UFC has an event slated for later in the year.
What It Means: For TKO, business continuity currently outweighs geopolitical caution. However, Shapiro’s careful language signals the company isn’t dismissing risk entirely. There is a lot of money tied to every event that the WWE and UFC put on overseas. An early reaction to tensions in the middle east could potentially harm relationships for future events if either acts too quickly. Reports state that F1 is already discussing rescheduling the cancelled races in the region.
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